Printing apparatus for the selective deposition of printed sheets on supports which are adjustable as to height

Abstract

A printing apparatus provided with a deposition unit for printed sheets comprising a number of copy trays situated one above the other, which trays are adjustable in height independent of one another to a deposition position with respect to the sheet delivery rollers disposed at a fixed height, and to a parking position. Upon the activation of the printing apparatus by a start key provided on the printing apparatus, a control system sets the bottom copy tray into a deposition position and the other copy trays into a higher parking position. Upon the activation of the printing apparatus by a start key disposed at a distance from the printing apparatus at a workstation, the control system selectively sets one of the other copy trays into a deposition position and the bottom copy tray into a lower parking position.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A printing apparatus for printing sheets and selectively depositing the printed sheets on supports disposed within a sheet delivery unit provided with a fixed sheet deposition member disposed at a fixed location, relative to the sheet delivery unit, said supports being adjustable in height, independent of one another, each support being movable between a highest deposition position and a lowest deposition position in which sheets can be deposited on the respective supports and each support being adapted to be positioned in a parking position where sheets cannot be deposited on the respective supports and in which the parking position of the bottom support is no higher than the lowest deposition position of the bottom support and the parking position of the remaining supports situated above the bottom support is higher than the fixed sheet deposition member, wherein the printing apparatus is provided with a control key for exclusively setting the printing apparatus to deposit printed sheets on the bottom support. 
     
     
       2. The printing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the control key is formed by a start key on the printing apparatus, which when operated starts the printing of sheets which are to be deposited on the bottom support. 
     
     
       3. The printing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the parking position of the bottom support is situated at a fixed predetermined distance beneath the lowest deposition position of the bottom support. 
     
     
       4. The printing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein other remaining supports have the top support which is adapted to be placed in its bottom deposition position when there are no sheets situated between at least two supports positioned lower than the fixed sheet deposition member. 
     
     
       5. The printing apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the top support is adjustable to support sheets which have a larger format than sheets which are adapted to be deposited on the remaining supports situated beneath the top support.